
progressive. When in conversion the sinner finds peace with God through the
blood of the atonement, the Christian life has just begun. Now he is to 'go on
unto perfection.'
"—"The Great Controversy,"
p.
470.
"Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a
lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of con-
stantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs cannot be
righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble, intermittent
efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline, and stern conflict,
that we shall overcome. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict
the next. So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins
to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point
which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result
of lifelong obedience."—"Acts
of the Apostles,"
pp.
560, 561.
7.
By what means is sanctification experienced? John 17:17; Rom.
15:16.
NOTE.—There is no true sanctification aside from the word, and the work
of the Holy Spirit.
"Great reproach has been cast upon the work of the Holy Spirit by the
errors of a class that, claiming its enlightenment, profess to have no further
need of guidance from the word of God. They are governed by impressions
which they regard as the voice of God in the soul. But the spirit that controls
them is not the Spirit of God. This following of impressions, to the neglect of
the Scriptures, can lead only to confusion, to deception and ruin."—"The
Great Controversy," Introduction,
p.
vii,
8.
What is the result of obedience and sanctification? 1 Peter 1:2.
'.NOTE.—"Since the law of God is 'holy, and just, and good,' a transcript
of the divine perfection,
it follows that a character formed by obedience to
that law will be holy. Christ is a perfect example of such a character. He
says, 'I have kept My Father's commandments.' I do always those things
that please Him.' The followers of Christ are to become like Him,—by the
grace of God, to form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy
law. This is Bible sanctification."—"The
Great Controversy,"
p.
469.
9.
What are we admonished to pursue if we wish to see the Lord?
Heb. 12:14.
NOTE.—The Revised Version rendering of Hebrews 12:14 is, "Follow after
peace with all men, and the
sanctification
without which no man shall see the
Lord."
10.
Of what should we be partakers? What contributes to this ex-
perience? 1 Peter 1:15; Heb. 12:10.
NOTE.—"When tribulation comes upon us, how many of us are like Jacob!
We think it the hand of an enemy; and in the darkness we wrestle blindly
until our strength is spent, and we find no comfort or deliverance. To Jacob
the divine touch at break of day revealed the One with whom he had been
contending,—the Angel of the covenant; and, weeping and helpless, he fell
upon the breast of Infinite Love, to receive the blessing for which his soul
longed. We also need to learn that trials mean benefit, and not to despise the
chastening of the Lord, nor faint when we are rebuked of
Him."—"Thouglits
From the Mount of Blessing,"
p.
25.
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